444 Proceedings, 
natives assembled to the ministrations of Archdeacon Hadfield (our present Bishop), it 
seems now difficult to fill the front seats. In the settlement itselfi—veritably a ** deserted 
village "— where f ly there were hundreds, it would be hard now to find Scores ; and, 
in answer to enquiries on all hands, the response is ** kua mate." 
d in this connection he mentioned a curious feature in the mortality of the race, 
namely, that the children and middle-aged people are the first to succumb; the old Stock, 
who appear better able to resist the new order of things, generally holding out the longest. 
That the race was doomed he had no doubt whatever in his own mind. What had 
happened in other parts of the world must inevitably happen, and indeed is happening, 
here. The aboriginal race must in time give place to a more highly organized, or, at any 
rate, a more civilized one. This seems to be one of the inscrutable laws of Nature. And, 
if true to our watchword of progress—social, intellectual, and physical—he could scarcely 
believe that even the most earnest Philo-Maori would deplore the change. He had often 
reflected on an observation of the late Dr. Featherston, on their first meeting, just 
twenty-eight years ago: “ The Maoris (he said) are dying out, and nothing can save them. 
ur plain duty as good, compassionate colonists, is to smooth down their dying pillow. 
Then history will have nothing to reproach us with." 
Accepting these facts, Dr. Buller insisted on its being the absolute duty of the 
: Society to collect materials for the future historian of the race. He said he had 
interesting of these papers, and stated his own views as to their relative value. Of some 
ofthe contributions by Maori experts, he spoke in terms of disparagement, and gave his 
reasons. Mr. Colenso, he said, had been the m diligent contributor, is papers were 
replete with information. But to his mind the best written, most interesting, and most 
philosophical of the papers on this subject were those contributed by a former president, 
Mr. W. T. L. Travers. His“ Life and Times of Te Rauparaha," he considered one of the 
most important contributions to Maori literature yet published. Sir George Grey, when 
very extensive collection of * Poems, Traditions, and Chants," which had been published 
: without, as yet, any translation. Much of this poetry was highly figurative and beautiful ; 
catch and reduce to writing this oral poetry, the knowledge of which was confined chiefly 
to the old men and tohungas. Professor Max Müller, whom he had met at Ozford, spoke 
in high praise of this work, and said that for years he had been looking out anxiously for 
the promised translation. ' 
In addition to these historical records, it appeared to him of the utmost importance 
very favourable opportunities for doing this, an many years past, with the 
active co-operation of Ca: Mair, he had diligently employed himself in forming 
such a collec There was much yet to be done; but, even now, he ventured to 
say, his private museum was far more complete y other of the kind in 
industrial—to illustrate the former habits of the people, the collection contained some 
objects of special historical interest ; for example the identical human-bone flute on which 
